Control and indicator apparatus for reel-wound strip material



Aug. 24, 1954 F. H. owENs 2,687,259

CONTROL AND INDICATOR APPARATUS FOR REEL-WOUND STRIP MATERIAL Original Filed March 19, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 l \\\\\\l\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\k\mmm\ l Ill I Y /8 t /////////l "ff, .\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\w\w 1 A I 2 A @y w /72 2 /aa II-t Aug- 24, 1954 F. H. OWENS .2,687,259

CONTROL AND INDICATOR APPARATUS FOR REEL-WOUND STRIP MATERIAL Original Filed March 19, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Allg. 24, 1954 F, H, OWENS 2,687,259

CONTROL AND INDICATOR APPARATUS FOR REEL-WOUND STRIP MATERIAL Original Filed March 19, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 15 JNVENTOR.

/cfff/VA/V Af. 0/1/71/5 Aug. 24, 1954 H, OWENS I 2,687,259

CONTRL AND INDICATOR APPARATUD FOR REEL-WOUND STRIP MATERIAL Original Filed March 19, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 24, 1954 CONTROL AND INDICATOR APPARATUS FOR REEL-WOUND STRIP MATERIAL Freeman H. Owens, New York, N. Y.

Original application March 19, 1949, Serial No. 82,464. Divided and this application July 6, 1951, Serial No. 235,438

13 Claims. l

The present invention relates to control and indicating apparatus for use with elongated material adapted to be wound from one reel on another, and in particular to such apparatus adapted to be included in a magazine Within which the elongated medium is contained.

The invention is here particularly illustrated as embodied in apparatus designed to record and reproduce intelligence on a magnetizable tape of the transducing medium, be it tape, wire, film,

or the like, from the apparatus, the use of magazines has found widespread acceptance because such magazines eliminate the onerous necessity of threading the medium through the various operative portions of the apparatus and also eliminate the diicult task of securing the free ends of the medium to the spools or other rotated elements upon which they are to be Wound. Various problems arise when such magazines are employed, one such problem revolving about the provision of proper control of the apparatus so that winding of the medium from one spool to another is terminated before the medium has completely unwound from one of the spools, since obviously if the medium is permitted to completely unwind, one of the advantages of the magazine type of apparatus, to wit, the lack of necessity of securing the free ends of the tape to the spool, would be obviated. Various expedients have in the past been employed with greater or less success. The present invention provides a construction which is simple and positive in operation and which eiiectively provides for the automatic and fool-proof attainment of the necessary functions.

When multiple lane transducing is employed,

it is most desirable that the transducing medium be drivable in either direction so that it is not necessary to place the magazine on the apparatus in a particular manner depending upon the particular lane to be transduced. The apparatus of the present invention is illustrated and described as adapted for two lane transducing but it will be apparent that any number of lanes may be employed.

The prime object of the present invention is to devise a magazine which, in conjunction with appropriately constructed apparatus, positively and eliciently ensures control of the operation or" the apparatus so that the magazine may be used with optimum ease and efficiency.

A still further object of the present invention is to devise a novel indicating mechanism for use in the magazine so as to give visual notice tothe user ci the particular portion of the medium which is being transduced at any given moment.

Another object of the present invention is to so correlate the indicating mechanism and the control mechanism that they function together in an effective and appropriate manner.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing objects and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to the control and'indicating mechanism, and to a magazine in which operative portions of such a mechanism are incorporated, as defined in the appended claims and as described in this specification, taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top cross-sectional View of the apparatus of the present invention with a magazine .in operative position thereon taken along the line I I of Fig. 2 but with one closure in open position and with the top of the magazine removed;

Fig. 2 is a side cross-sectional view taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 but showing both closures in closed position, the magazine being held slightly out of operative position;

Fig. 3 is a side cross-sectional view taken along the lines 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side cross-sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 1 but without the cover and closure portions of the apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 but taken along the lines 5 5 of Fig. 1; l

Fig. 6 is a side cross-sectional view taken along the line 6 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a bottom View, partially broken away, o f the magazine employed with the apparatus;

Fig. 8 is a schematic View illustrating the mechanism for driving the appropriate take-up spool in the'magazine;

Fig. 9 is a side cross-sectional view showing a portion of the driving mechanism in its intermediate non-engaged position;

Fig. 10 is a side cross-sectional View taken along the line ill-H) of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a View similar to Fig. 9 but showing the driving mechanism in one of its operative engaged positions;

Fig. 12 is a side cross-sectional view taken along the line l2-l2 of Fig. 1l;

Fig. 13 is a schematic view similar to Fig. 8 but showing the driving mechanism in the operative engaged position other than the one illustrated in Fig. ll; and

Fig. 1liN is a view similar to Fig. l2 but taken along the line M-M of Fig. 13.

The 'magazine The magazine ci the present invention coinprises a casing having a bottom portion 2 and a top portion 4, the two portions being held together by screws 6 or other appropriate; securing elements. A pair of cup-shaped spools 8 and I@ are provided, each being mounted on pins l2 which are in turn rotatable within sleeves I4 inside the casing, the cup-shaped spools being surrounded by plastic or rubber rings le to which the free ends of the transducing medium i8 are secured by means of pins 2li, the transducing medium i8 thus being woundon and between both ci the spools dennedby the cup-shaped members. 8. and l5. and the plastic or rubber rings 1.5, the medium t8 extending from the first spool 8 around a guide roller 22 rotatably mounted on Qin Z4- in sleeve 25., thence across the open front ci the magazine over pressure roller 28 mounted on pin 3.9: inA sleeve 32, thence around guide roller Z2! rotatably mounted, on pin 24 and thence to the spool |70.

Toothed wheels 34. are iixed to' the rotatable pins I2 at the bottom of the sleeves I4 and hence are. mtatablc with, the spools; Spool rotation restraining members in the form of levers 36 are rotatably mounted on the sleeves 26 by means of hubsBB, and are provided with nngers 60 engageable between the teeth of the wheels 3e so as to restrain those wheels from` rotation. Springs 42: are active between the levers 36 and studs 44 on` the casing so. as to urge the levers Se into their position in engagement with the wheels 3d, in which positionI they positively prevent rotation of those wheels and hence positively prevent rotation of thespools and l0. Each of the levers 3 5. is, provided With an odset portion it which, as will be explained more,A inl detail hereinafter, is engageable by an element on the apparatus whllthc magazine ismoved into operative position thereomso as to cause the levers 3.5 topivot outwardly imm. their engaged rotation-restrainposition as illustrated in Fig. 7 tothe position illustrated in 1 in which the. iingers 4G have beenv disengaged from. the, Wheels 34, thus permitting the spools 8 and I-Q to rotate.

An arm A8 is,V pivotally mounted. on sleeve 32 by means of hub 5B, and extends inwardly from the pin selben/veen the spools 8 and l0. A roller 52 is mounted on pin,Y 54j and, is adapted to engage the medium I8 on either one, ofv thespools 8- and lil. A pin 56 isprovidedon the arm 48 near the pin- 39, the pin 56 being acted, upon by protruding portion 5,8 of spring Ell, the, ends of which are secured to studs 52` structurally and electrically connected to the studs d4 by means of brackets E41 The actionA of the protruding portion 58 of the spring 6U on the pin 23 is of the overcenter or toggle type and hence the arm 48 will be urged in one direction o r the other so that the roller 52 will make contact with the medium i8, on one of the spools 8 or IU depending upon which of those spools has the least amount of, medium thereon. As illustrated, the spool, 8 has the least amount of medium thereon and the arm. 48, is urged by the spring 60 into engagement there.-

with. As the spool 8 is rotated to wind the medium thereon, the arm i8 will be moved away from the spool 8 against the action of the spring 50 until the amount of medium on the spool 8 is suflicient to cause the arm 48 to move past its central position, at which time the spring B willv then urge the arm 43 into engagement with the medium IS on thel spool le, that spool then having a lesser amount of medium Wound thereon.

A rst lever E6 preferably formed integral with the hub 50 extends to either side of the hub 5B. A. second lever Se extending to either side of the arm 48' has a hub portion 1D which is frictionally mounted on the hub 5t or the arm 48 by means of spring 72. The ends of the second lever S8 preferably extend out beyond the ends of the lever 6.5. These lei/versare adapted, as will be described more in detail hereafter, to actuate suitable controis, in accordance with the amount of medium wound on the spools 8 or l0, the levers being moved` by the arm 48 to which they are operatively connected.

In order to facilitate use of the apparatus it is desirable that the user be able to have some means of. knowing what particular point on the transducing medium I8 is being acted upon by the operative transducing element. This is necessary in order tomake proper erasures, to cause anew recordingto start where the previous recording has iinished, to enable reproduction only of a desired portion of the recorded intelligence, andthe like. Accordingly, anindicating member ld'. is provided on` the top of the magazine, that member taking the form of a small block slidable Within track '15. adjacent toy a piece of slate or paper i8 on which desired marks can be made. The element 'lil is connected at either end to a driving element in the form of an endless wire or string 8,0, which extends around guide pulleysv 82 at either side of, the magazine and also extends around enlarged pulley all. mounted on pin 86 which is in. turn rotatably received in sleeve 38 at the freel end of the arm 48. Secured to the pin 36 below the pulley 84 is gear Q0 which is movable Within slot 92 in the top 2 of the magazine and is4 engageable with stationary rack 94 formed in one edge of.' that slot 92. Hence, as the arm 1&8' pivots in accordance with the amount of medium on either one of the spools- 8. or l0, the pulley 84 will translate therewith and hence will move the driving element and the indicating member At the, same time that theV pulley 34. translates, it willI also rotate because of the rotation of the gear 9G with respect to the stationary rack 94- and hence additional movement will be imparted to theindicating member lll. As a result, although the arm 4,3 may cause translation ofthe pulley 84 only over a small fraction of the length of the magazinavthe rotation of the pulley lill. will cause the indicating element 'ill to move a much greater distance, across substantially all ofv the length of the magazine, thus giving rise to a more precise and accurate indication.

The apparatus The apparatusvvith which the magazine is useable. is here specifically disclosed only with regard to. those features thereof which are necessary to an understanding of,A the present invention. Conventional or, non-necessary features such as theuse of` a motor fory driving and the electrical, connections employed for controlling theoperatiorr ofthe motor; for accomplishing the transducing action, and for achieving thenecessary controls, are not specifically shown since they are relatively conventional in the field and may take a wide variety of forms without affecting the present invention in the slightest.

The apparatus comprises a frame generally detsignated 96 including a table or other surface 98 on which the magazine is positionable and a transducing housing generally designated' |00 at one end of the table 98. The housing comprises, in the embodiment here specically' illustrated for use with multiple lane recording, a pair of sub-housings |02 and |04 each containing a transducing head of any appropriate construction, the sub-housings being separated by driving roller |06 mounted 'on shaft |08 which has flanged pulley secured thereto via resilient bushing ||2, the flanged portion of the pulley being receivable within and driven by pulley ||4 connected to shaft ||6 which is driven in any appropriate manner "by a motor (not shown). A fly wheel I8 may also be secured to the shaft 6 in order to achieve increased smoothness of operation. The driving pulley |06 is adapted, when the magazine is placed in operative position, to enter the open end of the magazine and cause the elongated medium I8 t`o be engaged between itself and the roller 28 in the magazine, rotation of the driving roller |06 in either direction causing the medium |8 to unwind from one spool 8, I0 or the other. Each of the sub-housings |02 and |04 is provided with a curved guide surface |20 adapted to engage and support the portions of the elongated medium |8 between the guide rollers 22 and 22 and the roller 28, the transducing heads in the sub-housings 02 and |04 cooperating in any appropriate manner with the medium I8 as it passes over the guide surfaces |20, preferably by projecting out through apertures in the surfaces |20 into engagement with the medium |8. When multiple lane transducing is employed, the transducing heads are vertically positionable by any desired apparatusl to correspond to the land transducing of which is desired.

The housing |00 is also provided with appropriate manually operable controls such as the reproducing volume control knob |22 and the recording volume control knob |24. Each of the sub-housings |02 and |04 (and it will be remembered that when one lane recording is employed only one such sub-housing will be required) is provided with control mechanism cooperable with the levers 66 and 68 in the magazine to appropriately condition the apparatus to the amount of medium |8 remaining on the spool. This control mechanism could, if desired, be mechanicaly actuated but in the` form here specifically disclosed, it is electrically actuated. The control apparatus itself is not specifically illustrated, since it may take any desired form, but the arrangement of control contacts illustrated is particularly adapted and designed to aotuate a suitable warning signal, such as a light or buzzer, when only a predetermined amount of medium remains on the spool having the least medium thereon and then to actuate a solenoid or other apparatus for automatically stopping the motor when the amount of medium on the spool being unwound reaches an irreducible minimum.

To this end, each of the sub-housings |02 and |04 is provided with an energizing contact |26 electrically connected to one end of the warning signal and the solenoid or other apparatus for stopping the motor and with first and second control contacts |28 and |30 respectively, the

6 first control contact |28 being connected to the other end of the solenoid or vother motor stopping mechanism and 'the second control contact |30 being electrically connected to the other end of the warning signal. In the magazine, the levers 36 are metallic, as are the springs 42, the studs 44, the brackets 64, the studs 62,the spring 60, the pin 56, the arm 48, and the levers 66 and 68, so that an electrical path is defined within the magazine from each of the levers 36 to the levers 66 and 68. When the magazine is in operative position on the apparatus, the energizing contacts |26 engage the offset portions 46 of the levers 36 so as to make electrical connection therewith and also to cause the levers 36 to pivot to their non-engaged position as shown in Fig. 1. The levers 66 and 66 are so positioned that as the arm 48' pivots, the end of the lever 66, which thus constitutes a second circuit closing contact, Will engage and make electrical connection with the second control contact |30, thus closing the circuit through the warning signal and energizing whatever warning may be considered appropriate. As the operation of the apparatus continues, more of the elongated medium |8 Will be wound from one of the spools 8, I0 and hence the arm will continue to pivot until the lever 66, which constitutes a first circuit closing contact, engages and makes electrical connection with the first control contact |28, thus closing the circuit to the solenoid or other apparatus and stopping the motor. During the latter portion of this movement, the lever 68 remains stationary with respect to the apparatus since it is in engagement with the second control contact |30. Hence it pivots with respect to the arm 48 and the lever 66 so that its opposite end is moved to a position in advance of the opposite end of the lever 66. Therefore, When motion of theelongated medium I8 is next initiated in an opposite direction, and hence when the arm 48 pivots toward the opposite spool |0, l8, the lever 68 will still engage with the second control contact |30 on the opposite side of the apparatus before the lever 66 engages the first circuit closing contact |28. In this way, the warning signal is always and automatically energized a predetermined interval before the motor is stopped no matter what the direction of motion of the medium I8.

The medium I8 is positively moved past the transducing heads by reason of rotation of the driving pulley |06 and henceis unwound from the appropriate spool without any additional mechanism being necessary. However, a takeup drive must be provided active upon the Ispool upon which the medium is to be wound so as to rotate that spool and wind the medium thereupon. This take-up mechanism takes the form of a gear |32 positioned above the table 63 and mounted on shaft |34 rotatable within sleeve |36 carried on arm |38 pivotable about the bearing |09 Within which shaft |08 is rotatable, the lower end of the shaft |34 having pulley |40 secured thereto, the pulley |40 being drivingly connected with the flange pulley ||0 by means of flexible belt |42. Consequently, whenever the driving pulley |06 is rotated, the gear 32 will rotate also. The gear |32 is centrally positioned on the table 68 and is movable, by pivoting the arm |38, from side to side until it is in engagement with one or the other of the toothed wheels 34 associated with the spools 8 and |0. The

` gear |32 is also positionable centrally between and simultaneously out of engagement with both the toothed wheels. 310:... The spools 8. and` t will be selectivelyrotated for take-up purposes. dee pending upon whether; the gear |32. is in operative engagement; with their' respective toothed wheels 3.14..

The toothed` wheels 3.4; are exposed on the underside ci the magazine in recess les so as not. to interfere with free. sldability of the magazine. onto the apparatus. The. take-up driving gear |32 is receivable in the same. recess M4 between.. the toothed wheels 3.4.. In order toy iurther facilitate: removal. or replacement of' the. magazine in the apparatus, the gear i3?,v is also receivable within recess or chan-nel |45. on the tab-le 98, the gear |32-` being movable downwardly into that channel |46, in which position it is below the upper level of. the. table 98. and hence does. not interfere with motion of the magazine therealong.

The mechanism for` accomplishing the positioning of the gear |32 is best. shown in Figs. a through 13. The arm les is not only pvotable about bearing |09 but is also movable axially therealong, being urged. to upward position by means. of spring |48; active between theI table 98; and the arm |38'. The tail off the arm |38 is provided with a slot L50. and with a cammed surface generally designated |52` having. a central raised portion |54` and lateral lowered portions |56. A manually operable member in the form of a. handle 15.8 exposed on. the top of the housing ma., the handle being secured to and rotating shaft |60 mounted in sleeve itz. The shaft passes through and controls switch ltd which determines the direction ofr rotation of the motor and has an eccentric pin iii at the bottom thereof receivable within the slot in the tail of the arm |38.. Hence, rotation of the handle |58l causes the arm |323v to pivot.V

The handle |58 may assume one. of three positions. The intermediate position is illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the. eccentric pin its beine in line between the axis of shaft |56 and the pivotal axis of the arm |38. As a result, the arm |38 assumes an intermediate position in which the gearv |32 is. disposed between and out of engagement with both of the toothed wheels 3d. In this position, a` second pin It eccentrically. secured to the shaft |59. in engagement with the raised cam surface |54, thus forcing the arm |38 downwardly asv viewed in Fig. 9 so that the gear |32 is. received within the channel |48.. When in this position, the topl of the gear |32V is below the top` surface of the table 98 and hence the magazine may be. freely placed in position on the apparatus. At the same time, the switch |54 is positioned to deenergize the motor. The handle |58 is also adapted to be placed in a pair of extreme positions, one on each side of the intermediate position just described, one of which is illustrated in Figs. 1l and l2. Rotation of the handle |58. to this extreme position causes the eccentric pin-` |66, to pivot the, arm |38 so as to bring the gear |32 into engagement withone of the toothed wheels 34 corre.- spending to the spool which is to act as a takeup spool. At the same time, the pin |68- is moved so as to engage one of the lower cam surfaces and hence the. arm |38 permitted to move. upwardlyunder theiniiuence of the spring its; until the gear lf32 moves out of the channel |46 and projects above the top surface of the table 98 and into the recess |44 in the bottom of the, magazine. In this position, the switch |64. is. energized soY as to drive. the. motor in a direction appropriate to. utilizing the spool with which the gear |32 is operatively.l connected as the take-up spool. The other extreme position of the handle |58 is illustrated in. Figs. 13 and la. Comparing this position with the position of: Figs. l1 and l2 it will be apparent that since the eccentric pin |556 is on the opposite side of, the axis of the shaft Hill, thev arm |38. will be pivoted in the opposite direction, the` engagement 0i pin |58. with the other lower cam surface |55. permitting the arm |38 to move upwardly under the. influence of the spring |48 so that the gear 132 can mesh with the toothedv wheely 3.4 of the other spool.

The housing ille is positioned on one side 0E the. table 98.. A fixed cover lill is provided on the apparatus,y being connected. to. the. remainder of the apparatus by meansV of sidewalls H2, that coverl being provided with a window im through which the indicating member '|4i and the data sheet 'it are accessible, the table S8 and the top cover iii) defining an open-ended channel into which the magazine is insertable and from which the magazine is removable, The open end of the channel opposite from the housing lli. is provided with a closure HE hinged at |18 to the top wall HG. rljhe inside oi thisv closure |16 elries a pair of resilient pressure members generally designated |89 and each here illustrated in the form of a U-shaped bracket |32V within which a roller It@ is rotatably mounted, the; bracket |82 being secured to the underside of` the closure il by means of spring |85. Thesides of the magazine are provided with shoulders |88 against which the roilers le@ are engageable. Whenever the closure ile is in closed position, as here illustrated, the resilienty pressure members |86 will engage the magazine and force it toward. the housing |910, the apparatus and magazine being so cooperatingly designedy that the pressure members I8@ will be active, if permitted, to force the magazine intov operative position in which the energizing contacts |25 engage and pivot the levers 3.6, the elongated medium I8 is in engagement with the guide surfaces 29, and' in` which the driving roller` i pressesy the medium |8i between itself and the roller 28 in the magazine. Hence, merely moving the closure Il@ to its closed. position will ensure that the magazine will be properly operatively positioned in the apparatus.

When the magazine is. sov positioned, some strain is placed upon the elongatedA medium i8. It is often desired to have the apparatus in stand-by condition, with the magazine inserted thereiny over a, lolleperiod of time, and in order to. increase the life of the elongated medium I8 and prevent the possibility of its being distorted` oy remaining under tension or compression for any long period of time, and further in order to provide an apparatus which may be completely enclosed when not inv use, I provide a second closure iSd hingedly secured at |92 to the, xed cover |10 and adapted when. in closed position to completely enclose and cover the housing lili).v `rigredly secured to the closure are a pair of stops |94 adapted, when the second closure |90 is in closed position, to engage the front edge of the magazine and hold said magazine out ofv operative position, the energizing contacts |28 not pivoting the levers 3ft so that rotation of the spools il and' i9 is still@ prevented, and the medium |8 in the magazine remaining in unstressed condition. Whenever transducing is desired, the mere lift- 111g of the closure i9!) to open position will expose the manual controls for the. apparatus. and

at the same'time permit the resilient pressure members |80 to press the magazine into operative position.

Operation The functioning and operation of my apparatus and magazine will in the main be apparent from the above description. When it is desired to load a magazine into the apparatus, the handle |58 will be in its intermediate position and hence the motor will be de-energized and the take-up gear |32 will be in the position illustrated in Fig. 9 in which it will not interfere with free sliding of the magazine over the table 98. After the magazine has been slid most of the way in, the closure |16 can be moved to closed position,after which the magazine can be retained in the apparatus but out of operative position so that the spool rotation restraining members 35 will still be effective to prevent undesired rotation of either of the spools 8 or I0 and so that the elongated medium I8 will be in unstressed condition. Whenever it is desired to record or reproduce, the second closure |90 may be opened, thus automatically exposing the manual controls and causing the magazine to move into operative position.. The handle |58 is then moved to either one of its extreme positions, depending upon the desired direction of motion of the transducing medium, this in turn being determined by the land transducing of which is desired, the transducing head being approximately positioned with regard to the desired lane. This will cause the take-up gear |32 to move upwardly and sidewardly into meshing engagement with the toothed Wheel 34 on the spool or |0 which is to be the take-up spool. At the same time, the motor will rotate the driving roller |00 and hence will move the medium I3 past the transducing head and at the same time cause rotation of the take-up gear |32 through the slippable connection dened by the transmission belt |42 so as to cause the appropriate spool to wind the transducing medium thereupon.

As transducing takes place, the arm 48, which is in engagement with the spool having the least medium thereon and hence with the take-up spool at this stage of the operation, will be pivoted Aas medium is wound upon the take-up spool,

causing rotation of gear 00 and of pulley 04 and moving the indicating member 14 across the magazine.

As soon as the take-up spool has more medium wound thereon than the other spool, or as soon as the spool with which the roller 54 on the arm 48 is in engagement has suicient medium thereon to cause the arm 48 to pivot past its central position, the arm will thenI be moved, by the action of the spring 60, into engagement with the other spool. As the medium on that spool becomes depleted, the arm 48 will continue to pivot until the lever 58 makes contact with the second control contact |30, thus energizing a warning signal. As operation continues the lever 68 will slip with respect to the arm 48 until the lever 66 makes contact with the rst control contact |20, thus energizing an appropriate control circuit such as a solenoid which will stop the motor.

The handle |58 may then be placed in its intermediate position permitting removal of the magazine or it may be moved to its operative extreme position, in which case the direction of motion of the elongated medium I8 in the magazine will be reversed, the operations proceeding as above described.

It will be apparent that many variatiOpS may 10 be made in the specific design of the apparatus and magazine here disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention as dened in the following claims.

I claim:

l. A magazine for an elongated medium comprising a casing, a pair of spools mounted therein on and between which said medium is wound, an arm articulately mounted in said casing so as to be engageable with the medium on said spools, a spring active on said arm to urge said arm into engagement with one or the other of said spools, a rst lever on said arm and a second lever movably mounted on said arm, said levers extending from said arm so as to engage and actuate controls as the medium on the spool with which the arm is in contact becomes depleted.

2. A magazine for an elongated medium comprising a casing, a pair of spools mounted therein on and between which said medium is wound, an arm articulately mounted in said casing so as to be engageable with the medium on said spools, a spring active on said arm to urge said arm into engagement with one or the other of said spools, a first lever fixed to said arm and a second lever mounted on said arm so as to be movable between positions in advance of said iirst lever with respect to motion of said arm in either direction, said levers extending from said arm so as to engage and actuate controls as the medium on the spool with which the arm is in contact becomes depleted, said second lever actuating its control before said rst lever actuates its control.

3. An apparatus for cooperating with an elongated medium comprising a frame, two separated pair of control elements on said frame, a magazine containing an elongated medium arrangeable on said frame, said magazine comprising a casing, a pair of spools mounted therein on and between which said medium is wound, an arm articulately mounted in said casing so as to be engageable with the medium on said spools, a spring active on said arm to urge said arm into engagement with one or the other of said spools, a rst lever on said arm and a second lever movably mounted on said arm, the pairs of said control elements on said frame being on opposite sides of said arm, movement of said arm toward either spool a sulicient distance causing said levers to sequentially engage the control elements of the appropriate pair and thus sequentially actuate appropriate controls.

Il. An apparatus for cooperating with an elongated medium comprising a frame, two separated pair of control elements on said frame, a magazine containing an elongated medium arrangeable on said frame, said magazine comprising a casing, a pair of spools mounted therein on and between which said medium is wound, an arm articulately mounted in said casing so as to be engageable with the medium on said spools, a spring active on said arm to urge said arm into engagement with one or the other of said spools, a first lever ixed to said arm and a second lever mounted on said arm so as to be movable between positions in advance of said rst lever with respect to motion of said arm in either direction, movement of said arm toward one of said spools a suiiicient distance causing said second lever to engage one of the control elements of the appropriate pair,l further movement of said arm inl the same direction causing relative movement of said arm and said second lever at least until said first lever engages the other of the control elements of said appropriate pair, thus advancing said second lever relative to said iirst lever with respect to the opposite direction of motion of said arm, thereby sequentially actuating appropriate controls.

5. An apparatus cooperating with an'elonga'ted medium comprising 4a iframe, an energizing contact on said frame, a control contact on 'said frame, an electric control apparatus connected between said contacts, a magazine containing an elongated medium arrangeable on said frame, said magazine comprising a casing, a cooperating contact engageable with said energizing contact whenever said magazine is in operative position on said frame, and a circuitclosing contact the position of which in said magazine is conn trolled by the medium in said magazine, said circuit closing contact being movable into engagement with said control contact at an appropriate time, said cooperating and circuit closing contacts being electrically connected, engagement between said circuit closing contact and said control contact closing 'the circuit to and actuating said electric control.

6. vin apparatus for cooperating with an elongated medium comprising a frame, an energizing contact on said frame, a control contact on said frame, an electric control apparatus connected between said contacts, a magazine containing an elongated medium arrangeable on said frame, said magazine comprising a casing, a pair of spools mounted therein on and between which said medium is wound, a cooperating contact engageable with said energizing contact whenever said magazine is in operative position on "said traine, an arm articulately mounted in said casing so as to `be `engageable with the medium on said spools, a spring active on said arm to urge said arm int'o engagement with one or the other of said'spools, and a circuit closing con tact on said 'arm engageable with said control contact whenever said arm has moved a suiiicient distance toward one of said spools as the medium on said spool becomes depleted, said cooperating and circuit closing 'contacts being electrically connected, engagement between said circuit closing contact and said vcontrol contact closing the circuit to and actuating said electric con trol.

7.' An apparatus for cooperating with an elongated medium comprising a frame, an energizing contact on said frame, .first and second control contacts on said "frame, iirst and second electric control apparatus connected between said energizing contact and said first and second control contacts respectively, a .magazine containing an elongated medium zarrangealole on said frame, said magazine comprising a casing, a cooperating contact engageable with said energizing contact whenever said magazine is `in operative position on said frame, a Ypair of spools in said magazine on and between which said medium is wound, an arm articulately mounted in said casing so as to be engageable with the medium on said spools, a 'spring activeon said arm to move said arm into engagement with one vvor the other of said spools, a first circuitclosing contact on said arm and a second 'circuit closing contact mounted on said arm so as to be 'movable between positions in advance of said 'first 'circuit closing 'Contact with respect to motion of said arm in either direction, movement of said farm toward one of said spools a sucient distance causing said second circuit closing contact to engage "said second control contact, further movement of said arm in the same direction causing relativemovement of said fir's't and second vcircuit Lclosing contacts at least 1-2 until said nrst circuit closing contact engages said first control contact, said cooperating and circuit closing contacts being electrically connected, engagement between said circuit closing contacts and the corresponding control contacts closing the circuit to and actuating the corresponding electric controls.

8. An apparatus for cooperating with an elongated medium comprising a frame, an energizing contact on said frame, rst and second pairs of control contacts on said frame, each pair comprising -iirst and second control contacts, rst and second electric control apparatus connected between said energizing contact and the first and second control contacts of said rst and second pairs, a magazine containing an elongated medium arrangeable on said frame, said magazine comprising a casing, a pair of spools mounted therein on and between which said medium is wound, a cooperating contact engageable with said energizing contact whenever said magazine is in operative position on said frame, an arm articulately mounted in said casing so as to be engageable with the medium on said spools, a spring active on said arm to move said arm into engagement With-one or the other of said spools, a first circuit closing contact on said arm, a second circuit-closing Contact movably mounted on said arm, the `rst and second pairs of control contacts on said frame being on opposite sides of said arm, movement of said arm toward one of said spools a sufficient distance causing said second circuit closing contact to engage the second control contact of the appropriate one of said pairs, further movement of said arm in the same direction causing relative movement of said arm and said second circuit closing contact at least until said rst circuit closing contact engages said nrst control contact of said pair, thus advancing said second circuit closing contact relative to said rst circuit closing contact with respect to the opposite direction of motion of said arm, movement of said arm toward the other oi said spools causing sequential engagement of said second and first circuit closing contacts with the corresponding control contacts of said other pair, said energizing contact being electrically connected to said first and second circuit closing contacts, engagement between said iirst and second circuit closing contacts and said first and second control contacts respectively closing the circuit to and actuating said first and second electric controls.

9. In the apparatus of claim 5, said magazine comprising a medium-motion-restraining vmember movably mounted in said casing and normally active on said medium to prevent its rotation, said member being operatively connected to and moved to inoperative position by said energizing contact when said magazine is in operative position on said frame.

lil. In the apparatus of claim 6, said magazine comprising a spool-rotation-restraining member pivotally mounted in said casing and normally engaged with a spool to prevent its rotation, said member being electrically connected to said circuit closing contact and being operatively connected to and moved to non-rotation-restraining position Yrelative to said spool by said energizing contact when said .magazine is in operative lposi-- tion on said frame.

1:1. y'ifi magazine `containing an elongated ineidium comprising a casing, a .pair of spools rotate ably mounted therein on and between which'said medium lis wound, an arm :articulately mounted in said casing so as to be engageable with the medium on said spools, a spring active on said arm to urge it into engagement with the medium on one of said spools, a gear on said arm, a rack on said casing with which said gear is engaged, said gear rotating as said arm moves corresponding to the amount of medium on the spool with which it is engaged, an indicating member on said magazine to show the amount of medium which was wound on or unwound from a spool, and an operative connection between said indicating member and said gear so that rotation and movement of said gear positions said indicating member.

12. A magazine containing an elongated medium comprising a casing, a pair of spools rotatably mounted therein on and between which said medium is wound, an arm articulately mounted in said casing so as to be engageable with the medium on said spools, a spring active on said arm to urge it into engagement with the medium on one of said spools, a gear on said arm, a rack on said casing with which said gear is engaged, said gear rotating as said arm moves corresponding to the amount of medium on the spool with which it is engaged, an indicating member on said magazine to show the amount of said medium which has been wound on or unwound from a spool, a driving element for said indicating member, and a pulley on said arm and rotatively connected to said gear, said driving element being engaged with said pulley, said pulley moving with said arm and rotating with said gear to position said indicating member.

13. A magazine for an elongated medium comprising a casing, a pair of spools rotatably mounted therein on and between which said medium is Wound, an arm articulately mounted in said casing so as to be engageable with the medium on said spools, a spring active on said arm to urge it into engagement with the medium on one of said spools, a gear on one end of said arm, a rack-on said casing with which said gear is engaged, said gear rotating as said arm moves corresponding to the amount of medium on the spool with which it is engaged, an indicating member on said magazine to show the'amount of medium which is wound on or unwound from a spool, a driving element for said indicating member, and a pulley on said arm and rotatably connected to said gear, said driving element being engaged with said pulley, said pulley moving with said arm and rotating with said gear to position said indicating member, a rst lever xed to said arm at the other end thereof from said gear, a second lever mounted on said arm adjacent said rst lever so as to be m vable with respect to said arm between positions in advance of said rst lever with respect to motion of said arm in either direction, said levers being adapted to actuate controls as the medium on the spool with which the arm is in contact with becomes depleted, said second lever actuating its control before said first lever actuates its control.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

